The Portland daily press., 1887-05-07

The next item in the imperial programme
was the prolonged fasting in the Temple OF
Fasting" which terminated the preliminary
ceremonies. The Emperor has since been
preparing himself for the more important
function by days and nights Of PRAYER and
supposed communion with the shades Of his
glorifed ancestors. But again your CORE
spOndent Is at loss and, in common with
every one else in China, confesses his in
ability to state what took place at any one OF
these supernatural interviews. On Monday
however, all the imperial clan, numbering
many hundreds, and termed the Tsung Shin,
and the high Ministers, including III Hung
Chang and the Marquis Tseng, were assem-
bled by edict in the palace to witness the
ceremony OF the formal installation OF the
Emperor.
No European eye has ever witnessed the
proceedings upon such an occasion, and 1t Is
doubtful whether any has ever seen the in
side OF the palace at all. But the ceremony
is briefly thus: A crash Of symbols and the
assemblage falls down, face to the ground
PROSTATE before the Empress mother, Hwan z
Row she is called-angliei, Mother Of the
State. The Emperor then enters the hall
surrounded by his retinue and dressed in
flowing robes of yellow and gold. He bows
to the ground, or kowtows, as it Is termed,
three times, in homage to the maternal dig
nifty. The rest of the assemblage follow his
example and remain rising and falling, like a
Mohammedan at prayer, for several minutes
At the app ropriate moment the Empress va
Gates her seat, which she has filed for the
last time, unless the Emperor dies, when she
In respect OF her right as Empress Dowager,
again resumes her place. The Emperor then
takes her place and the courtiers avert their
eyes from his august countenance and con-
tinue the kowtOwing once more.
A long scroll is then laid before the En-
peror, on which he makes a struggling look
ing mark with the red pencil, and the cere-
mOny concludes, the clansmen and minis
tiers retiring in order Of precedence, 10 which
great attention is paid, as mistake in this
matter Is very grave and unfortunate af-
fair indeed. The mark which His Majesty
makes with the red pencil is a thing which
the greatest men in the State covet, and a
document signed by his sacred hand would
command almost any price by his subjects.
All the native papers in the capital and
throughout the empire appeared this day on
crimson paper.
Our two native papers in Shanghai, the
Hupdo and the Shepdo, were nearly all
bought up by Celestials and Europeans as
mementoes of the day. Strange TO say there
was very little evidence Of popular rejoicing
on the occasion; The Chinese shlps-ot-was
in the harbOr displayed a little extra bunt-
ing, floated larger and gaudier dragon flag
than usual and fired few shots, but here
the display ended. The average John China
man cares but little for and takes no interest
in the doings of his ruler. He regards the
plCocuL uouIpciy anu WOulu
not lose days "fudgin' to celebrate his in
stallation. The official classes, however,
including the dignitaries known as the
Chehsien and the Taotsai, followed by many
mandarins, repaired to the city temple In
Shanghai, which represents the imperial
palace at Pekin, and did reverence before the
tablet OF the Emperor, who is the Buddha
Of the present day.
In accordance with their usual diplomacy
the French Jesuits throughout the country
had special services in their churches, the
JOY bells ringing, with great congregations
Of native Christians joining with more or
less sincerity in the prayers for happy and
prosperous reign. 1t is the opinion Of we'll
Informed people here that the rule of the
present Emperor will be marked by inn
portant changes for the benefit Oh his vast
dominions, and that ere many years we will
not look upon China as the dark
land as to Western civilization that
she is now. The adoption of West
ern ideas Is marching with telling
strides, and Pekin is at this moment agitated
with many schemes for the laying Of great
railways and the sanctioning of internal
steamboat communication. Promoters from
the new and old world are busy in the capt.
tai, and have gained the ear Of the foremost
men. Amy day we expect to hear that the
imperial approval has been obtained to more
than one proposal of vast Importance, not
alone to China but to the world, and more
particularly the great industrial world. Two
or three OF the leading ministers are strongly
in favor of progress according to Western
notions, and their influence at headquarters
may at anytime now be felt.